Strawberry plant named ‘PS-5096’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘PS-5096’. This new strawberry plant named ‘PS-5096’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is characterized by medium to small sized fruit which are orange-red to red in color; medium to small calyx diameter; conical, glossy fruit with the calyx which tends to be slightly reflexed; medium green foliage, which is slightly concave to slightly convex in shape with medium interveinal blistering and gloss; and position of fruiting truss tends to be more level with to above the plant with weak pubescence.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘PS-5096’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘PS-5096’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors Stephen M. Ackerman, Steven D. Nelson, and Michael D. Nelson, in 1997 between strawberry variety ‘PS-592’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,903) and strawberry variety designated ‘PS-1150’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,780). It is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in Siskiyou County, California, and was subsequently selected by the inventors from a controlled breeding plot in Salinas, Calif., in 1999. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated by stolons in both Siskiyou County, California and San Joaquin County, California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields of Salinas, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PS-5096’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary winter temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from April through November. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to maintain fruit quality during the spring and summer production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘PS-5096’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Medium to small sized fruit;     -   2. Orange-red to red fruit color;     -   3. Medium to small calyx diameter;     -   4. Conical, glossy fruit with the calyx which tends to be         slightly reflexed;     -   5. Medium green foliage; slightly concave to slightly convex in         shape with medium interveinal blistering and gloss; and     -   6. Position of fruiting truss tends to be more level with to         above the plant with weak pubescence.

The strawberry varieties that are believed to be most closely related to the new strawberry variety ‘PS-5096’ are the parental cultivars, strawberry variety ‘PS-592’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,903) and strawberry variety ‘PS-1150’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,780).

In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry varieties ‘PS-592’ and ‘PS-1150’, the new strawberry variety ‘PS-5096’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-5096’ No. 9,903) No. 10,780) 1. Average berry 19.3 23.1 17.6 weight (gm) 2. Achenes per berry 254 304 293 3. Distribution of Only marginal Marginal & Marginal & red color of the central central internal flesh 4. Number of 5.5 5.0 5.0 crowns per Plant 5. Plant Size Medium to Large Medium large 6. Stolon Absent or Medium Medium to anthocyanin very weak strong intensity 7. Stolon Weak to Medium Medium to pubescence medium strong 8. Foliage Color Medium green Medium green Medium green (upper surface) 9. Foliage Medium Medium to Weak to interveinal strong medium blistering 10. Foliage gloss Medium Strong Weak 11. Fruiting truss Level with to Level with to Above position relative above beneath to foliage 12. Fruiting truss Weak Medium Medium pubescence

For identification a series of AFLP molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-5096’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘PS-5096’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-5096’ were taken in Salinas, Calif., and are approximately 8 to 9 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics taken in the month of June, 2006.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of typical leaf structure taken in the month of June, 2006.

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit taken in the month of June, 2006.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of fruit taken in the month of July, 2006.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘PS-5096’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘PS-5096’, unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2006 growing season in Salinas, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘PS-5096’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, California during the middle of October 2005 and planted approximately 3 weeks later in Salinas, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is 7 to 10 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from four years of data collected from the 2003 through 2006 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows the Munsell Book of Colors, Munsell Color, Baltimore, Md. (1976).

The following Tables 2-8 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘PS-5096’ in comparison to the similar strawberry varieties ‘PS-592’ and ‘PS-1150’.

TABLE 2 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-5096’ No. 9,903) No. 10,780) Color of mature fruit 7.5R 3/12-4/12 7.5R 3/12-4/12 7.5R 4/10-3/8 Orange red to Orange red to Red red red Color of internal flesh 7.5R 4/10-4/12 7.5R 5/10-4/10 7.5R 4/10-4/12 Medium red Light red Medium red Length (cm) 4.39 4.83 4.20 Width (cm) 3.68 4.26 3.69 Ratio length/width 1.19 1.13 1.14 Slightly longer Slightly longer Slightly longer than broad than broad than broad Calyx diameter (cm) 4.0 5.0 4.2 Average weight (gm) 19.3 23.1 17.6 Achene color 5Y 6/8-7.5R 5Y 6/8-7.5R 5Y6/8-7.5R 3/8 3/8 3/8 Achenes per berry 254 304 293 Achene weight (mg) 0.59 0.61 0.56 Marketable yield 1,219 1,392 1,010 (gm/plt) Size Medium to Medium to Small small large Predominant shape Conical Conical Conical Difference in shapes None or very Moderate Slight between primary and slight secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent or very Absent or very Absent or very narrow narrow narrow Unevenness of surface Absent or very Weak Absent or very weak Evenness of color Even Slightly uneven Even to even Glossiness Strong Medium to Strong strong Insertion of achenes Level with Level with Level with surface surface surface Insertion of calyx In the basin Level to above In the basin to level fruit to level Attitude of the calyx Spreading to Spreading to Collapsing to reflexed reflexed reflexed Size of calyx in Slightly larger Slightly larger Slightly larger relation to fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Strong Strong Strong Firmness of skin Strong Medium Strong Firmness of flesh Firm Medium Medium to firm Keeping quality: Excellent Moderate Excellent Distribution of red Only marginal Marginal and Marginal and color of the flesh central central Hollow center Moderate Moderate to Moderate to expression strong strong Flavor Good Very good Fair Soluble solids 8.3 8.0 7.4 (% Brix) Time of first flowering Medium Early Late Flowering period Early March Late February Mid March to early March Time of first Medium Early Late harvesting Harvest period Early April to Late March to Mid April to early December early December early December Type of bearing Partially Partially Partially remontant remontant remontant

TABLE 3 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-5096’ No. 9,903) No. 10,780) Height of plant (cm) 29.7 31.0 30.0 Spread of plant (cm) 31.7 35.1 28.8 Crowns/plant 5.5 5.0 5.0 Size Large to medium Large Medium Habit Globose Globose Globose Density Medium Open to Medium medium Vigor Medium to strong Strong Medium

TABLE 4 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-5096’ No. 9,903) No. 10,780) Average stolon Few Few to medium Few number per plant from the fruiting field Anthocyanin 7.5R 6/6-6/4 7.5R 5/6-5/4 7.5R 4/6-5/6 coloration Anthocyanin intensity Absent or very Medium Medium to weak strong Diameter at bract 4.0 4.4 4.2 (mm) Thin to Thick Thin to medium medium Pubescence Weak to Medium Medium to medium strong

TABLE 5 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-5096’ No. 9,903) No. 10,780) Foliage: Color of upper surface 7.5GY 4/4-3/4 7.5GY 4/4-3/4 7.5GY 4/4-3/4 Medium green Medium green Medium green Color of under side 5GY 5/4-6/4 5GY 5/4-6/4 5GY 5/4-6/4 Light to Light to Light to medium grey medium grey medium grey green green green Shape in cross section Slightly Slightly Slightly concave to concave concave to slightly convex slightly convex Interveinal blistering Medium Medium to Weak to strong medium Glossiness Medium Strong Weak Number of leaflets 3 3 3 to 4 Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 9.2 9.5 7.2 Width (cm) 6.6 8.0 6.4 Length/width ratio 1.39 1.19 1.13 Serrations/leaf 20.7 20.7 19.3 Size Much longer Much longer Longer than than broad than broad broad Shape of base Acute Acute Obtuse Shape of teeth Obtuse Obtuse Obtuse Petiole: Length (cm) 20.8 21.1 19.0 Diameter (mm) 3.6 4.7 3.1 Petiolule length (mm) 13.0 15.7 9.3 Pubescence Moderate to Moderate to Moderate to sparse sparse sparse Attitude of hairs Slightly Strongly Strongly outward outward outward Size bract leaflets Small Small to Small medium Stipules: Length (mm) 15.4 20.8 14.5 Width (mm) 8.3 8.5 8.4 Anthocyanin Medium Medium Absent or very coloration weak Color Light to Light to Light to medium green medium green medium green

TABLE 6 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-5096’ No. 9,903) No. 10,780) Length at maturity 35.5 37.3 38.1 (cm) Position relative to Level with to Beneath to Above foliage above level with Pubescence Weak Medium Medium Anthocyanin intensity Light Light Moderate Attitude at first pick Prostrate to Prostrate to Prostrate to erect erect erect

TABLE 7 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-5096’ No. 9,903) No. 10,780) Petal color N9.5/90.0% R N9.5/90.0% R N9.5/90.0% R to to to N9.25/84.2% R N9.25/84.2% R N9.25/84.2% R White White White Corolla diameter (mm) 28.0 30.6 30.5 Calyx diameter (mm) 32.0 38.8 34.0 Petal length (mm) 11.0 12.1 12.5 Petal width (mm) 10.1 11.5 10.8 Petal length/width 1.09 1.05 1.15 ratio Petals/flower 6.0 6.0 6.2 Sepal length (mm) 12.8 15.7 13.1 Sepal width (mm) 4.8 6.2 5.4 Sepal length/width 2.69 2.54 2.42 ratio Sepals/flower 12.1 11.9 12.4 Size of calyx relative Larger Larger Larger to corolla Size of inner calyx Same Smaller to Smaller to relative to outer calyx same same Relative position of Overlapping Overlapping Overlapping petals

TABLE 8 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-5096’ No. 9,903) No. 10,780) Two spotted spider mite Moderately Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus bug Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible Flower thrips Moderately Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew Moderately Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Angular leaf spot Moderately Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Virus complex Unknown Unknown Unknown 

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘PS-5096’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 